Does Canada use the same system as the US? If so will my tri band Australian phone work there? Yes, I know I should contact my telco, but its sunday and I am curious.

Assume you're asking specifically about GSM - and yes Canada does have the same system as U.S. opearting at 850/1900 mhz. The GSM provider in Canada is Rogers so you will roam onto their network which is quite good.

anything else I need to know?

Well....how do you plan to connect? Roam on your Aussie provider or buy prepaid plans in the U.S. and then in Canada?

If the latter you need to ensure your handset is "unlocked" so that you can use the U.S. and Canadian carriers SIM cards in your handset (assuming you don't want to buy handsets here - but maybe you do?)

As far as pricing is concerned Fido has the lowest GSM rates (they're owned by the only GSM operator - Rogers)

http://www.fido.ca/portal/en/package..._airtime.shtml

And remember - in the U.S. and Canada the mobile owner pays for outgoing AND incoming minutes - we do not have "calling party pays".

I thought I might buy a prepaid sim. But as we will mainly be at Big White, it may not be worth it. Does anyone know about mobile access at BIg White.

do not depend on buying a prepaid. i did. your triband phone will work in canada but as the first reply said most of the phones are gsm not digital.
we wanted to mainly be able to sms our rellies and friends back in oz, only to be told that prepaid does not allow overseas sms. also there is only one provider which handles digital.
either pay ahead for roaming, and i am not sure how good the coverage would be, given the lack of service, or go without.

now I am confused !!